At the age of 55, I almost lost my life to a cardiovascular disease. When I left the ICU, I felt like stepping out of hell. Since then, I was forced to retire from being a restaurant owner and spent most of my time resting at home.

During the first two years of retirement, my health condition was less than ideal, I could only rest at home. I was depressed for not being able to do anything. One day when I was cleaning the house, I accidentally found the guitar that was put away for over 30 years. It seems to be a call for me, returning to the world of music that release me from the shadow of retirement and illness. Because of music, I met friends from different places; I became a volunteer to help the needed; I shared music with people, kept them and myself entertained. Later I joined E Major Ensemble as a percussionist, and had my first taste performing on stage. My retirement life has become colorful and meaningful.

Looking back at the six years since diagnosing with heart disease, all long it seemed to be coincidences after coincidences, yet essentially connected to each other. At first, I bought some textbooks, trying to learn playing the guitar on my own. My daughter teased how unfitting the guitar and I were to each other, that we sing our own melody. My daughter's tease inspired me to switch back to my primary school days favorite: the harmonica. Later I joined the percussion class organized by a community body and became acquainted to many volunteers. This provided me opportunities to perform with those suffer from Down Syndromes and to tutor Parkinson’s patients the harmonica. From there on, music is no longer merely self-entertain, but spread of joy.

Music is becoming increasingly more important in my retired life, so are the happiness and touching moments that come along. Among them, I am most impressed and moved by the perseverance of the Parkinson’s harmonica team.